Dogfather wallpaper

My genius friend (and former colleague) Marco sent me a wallpaper both visually awesome and funny. He granted me permission to post it here. You can download the wallpaper after the jump.

Standard:
1600 x 1200
1280 x 1024
1024 x 768
800 x 600

Widescreen:
1680 x 1050
1280 x 800

Note to self: a black-themed wallpaper stuns your coworkers and helps you keeping clean your desktop.

Senselessness from EU, part II

EU just banned patio heaters, thus expecting to diminish of a whopping 0,016 % the CO2 production, as demonstrated by numbers in the linked article.

I am waiting (breathless: otherwise I would emit CO2) for a more *substantial* measure.

EU to ban the patio heaters that ate the planet. Not. | The Register

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Commercial made real: Holy Trinit, Rome

A bunch of men launched a whopping half million balls down the stairs of Holy Trinit on Pincio Hill in Rome. See the video below:



The scenario is very similar to a TV manufacturer commercial, that became a viral video on the Net a couple of years ago: see by yourself.



Before you ask, the soundtrack is "Heartbeats" by Jose Gonzales.

The commercial involved 250,000 bouncy balls, so the half million declared by the newspaper seems a bit overrated. Is quite an effect anyway.

Senselessness from EU

While Sony BMG, after Warner, EMI and Universal, adds another nail to DRM coffin, Viviane Reading issued a report sanctioning a "transparent" DRM framework for the EU.

From my Boingboing comment:

Although as an Italian I am used to be ashamed of government, sometime I am ashamed of government as an EU citizen too.

I hope you all will act now and sign the Open Letter, as I have just done.

Please sign the Open Letter, and spread the word. Let not be ineptly shameful.

Letter to Viviane Reding, European Union commissioner for information society and media | DefectiveByDesign.org

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The most (im)probable future job yet: wanker.

Yes, not banker. Turns out the best motion source for pharmacologic nanobots is ATP-powered sperm flagellum. If this is true, given sufficient outcome from nanotechnologies, will result in a higher sperm demand for drugs prep.

You will be paid to jerk off. If you are reading this and you are at work, maybe you are already paid for that. :-)

Slashdot | Sperm Could Power Nanobots

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Scroogled in italian

I just published the italian translation of "Scroogled", by Cory Doctorow, who kindly linked my page to his site. As usual, my italian translation is strictly for zero-english-knowledge people. If you can, you should read the original work.

Cory Doctorow’s craphound.com » Stories

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7zip pwns Zipgenius

Free compression software:

I used to be a ZipGenius fan, for its reliability, stability, for wide range of filetype supported, and last but not least, because is Italian software.

I adopted 7zip after the weekly antivirus scan showed a possible threat in the ZipGenius folder, and I totally uninstalled ZipGenius: 7zip is even more reliable, more stable, supports more compression formats than you'll ever use, and last but not least, is open source.

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Definitely: I want one

Today ASUS announced the long-waited ultraportable EEE notebook.

Here you will find the specs: ASUS | Eee PC
Here you will find pricing info: 華碩 Eee PC 正式上市 - Engadget 癮科技

The most attractive feature being the price. If you look for the best mobility device, you can't choose a 20'' laptop, because isn't mobility.
You can't choose a smartphone either, keybord too small and display too small.

The best device would be a TX series Sony Vaio, but the price tag isn't just too high: it prevents people to buy it because if you have a Vaio TX you have to take it everywhere with you. But then, your chances to have it lost or stolen are higher and higher.

If you, like me, could afford to buy a laptop so expensive, but you can't afford (or you just can't bear) to lose a 3000 US$ gadget, you will not buy a Vaio.

The price tag of the most expensive EEE should be less than 300 EUR. I want one.

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tIpNo: tarallini

Things I put Nutella on: tarallini

- Tarallini availability scarce except in Southern Italy.
- Overall taste: good but not great.

Tarallini have a strong flavour that covers almost completely Nutella taste.
Long time Nutella fans know she (Nutella) gives her best with unsalty bread.

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tIpNo: banana.

Things I put Nutella on: banana.

- Easy to find components
- Overall taste: very good

The hazelnut flavour of Nutella mix very well with greasy fresh taste of banana.

Post scriptum: this is my first post Nutella related. It isn't the last. If you have suggestion, or experience, of things to spread Nutella on, write me and please send a picture as proof (as Digg readers used to say: "picture or didn't happen".)

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PC games are boring.

Recently I pointed out with my son that PC games, after you buy them, are almost free, and the gameplay is only time limited. In a video arcade you have rather a money limit, so playing PC games is more fun, because you haven't to worry for your wallet getting lighter.

I saw the first arcade games in 1980, the very first one being a car race (gosh) with a fake steering (but real enough), a gas pedal, and a whoppin' gamut of two gears (L and H)...
Then came Space Invaders, Pacman, Mario in all his flavors, and more, Star Wars with a fighter-like cockpit to immerse you in the game (very futuristic, very LucasArts, but so poorly realistic).

Then came Id Software, and when I saw Doom, running with dos4g in all his glory, I knew I will never ever spend a dime in a video arcade (I was 23). I have a strong dislike for fly simulators (too fake: the thrill in the flight is flying, like alcohol in beer - better drink tap water than alcohol-free beer). I have a strong dislike for adventures too. Adventure games are so time expensive, requiring hours and hours even for little advances - think about the beginning of Grim Fandango.

My interest was therefore captured by RPG-like games (once and for all: you can't have a real RPG playing alone, and when your PC AI will be sufficiently developed, well, you will be not alone anymore...). Diablo and Rainbow 6 helped me to kill some cumbersome hours, then I reached for the top with Deus Ex: Invisible War.

Stunning graphic, a convincing plot, easy to play (no: rifle and flamethrowers sharing the same ammo diminishes obviously your perception of a real story, but keeping account for ten or twelve ammos type is too far from the patience I'd like to put in a game, so why bother? I like to know the plot, feel part of your movie. I hate throwing away hours adjusting my inventory. And again, being short is not a defect, I left undone the first part (Deus Ex) for being too long.

And now, I cannot find a PC game sufficiently great (oxymoron intended) to spend all my three hours per year that I budgeted for PC games. Oblivion, Dungeon Siege II, Neverwinter Nights II are too boring for me. I just hope Deus Ex 3 will be as terrific as his predecessors.

Should I try a console? Should I get out more?

Deus Ex: Invisible War - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Things I have done.

Recently I whined about lack of time, wishful to learn Alexander Technique and Japanese language (having the sole purpose to understand lyrics from Miyazaki's Conan Future Boy soundtrack). Thanks to the 'net, part of my wish is already fulfilled: below you will find the original Conan lyrics and the Portuguese translation to help you understand them (although the cited online Dictionary is very useful, too).

Next stop: Alexander Technique.

Ima Chikyuu Ga Mezameru Lyrics

Umi wa aoku nemuri
Daichi ni inochi mebae

Soshite sora ga soshite sora ga
Ashita o yume mite

Hora umarekawatta chikyû ga
Mezame no asa o mukaeru
Oyoge namiketate hashire

Tsuchi o keri
Konna ni chikyû ga suki dakara

Konna ni yoake ga utsukushii kara
Utae koe awase odore kata o kumi

Konna ni chikyû ga suki dakara
Konna ni yoake ga utsukushii kara

Ima Chikyuu Ga Mezameru (tradução) Lyrics

umi wa aoku nemuri
(O mar em soneca azul.)
daichi ni inochi mebae
(A vida renasce pela terra.)

soshite sora ga soshite sora ga
(E no céu, e no céu...)
ashita o yume mite
(...sonhos do amanhã.)

hora umarekawatta chikyû ga
(Olhe! A Terra renascida...)
mezame no asa o mukaeru
(...recebe a manhã.)

oyoge namiketate hashire tsuchi o keri
(Nade contra as ondas. Corra e chute o solo.)
konna ni chikyû ga suki dakara
(Porque você ama tanto a Terra.)
konna ni yoake ga utsukushii kara
(Porque o amanhecer é tão lindo.)

utae koe awase odore kata o kumi
(Coloquem suas vozes juntas e cantem.)
konna ni chikyû ga suki dakara
(Porque você ama tanto a terra.)
konna ni yoake ga utsukushii kara
(Porque o amanhecer é tão lindo.)

Shiawase No Yokan Lyrics

kokoro ga konna ni furueru no wa naze
ryôte ga sora e nobite iku no wa naze
ryôashi ga tsuchi o kette hashiru no wa naze

kokoro wa toareru shiawase no yokan
ryôte wa tsukamu fukura miyuku kibô
ryôashi wa kakete iku haru kara chihei

ikite iru kara
ashita ga aru kara
chikyû ga mawatte iru kara

Shiawase No Yokan (Tradução) Lyrics

Por que é que meu coração treme tanto?
Por que é que eu levanto minhas mãos ao céu?
Por que meus pés chutam o solo e correm assim?

Eu tenho uma premonição de boa sorte em meu coração.
Eu seguro em minhas mãos as esperanças crescentes.
Meus pés caminham em direção do horizonte.

Porque estou vivo!
Porque existe um amanhã!
Porque a Terra gira sem parar!

MIRAI SHOUNEN CONAN Lyrics
Highharbor.net - Future Boy Conan - Music
Future Boy Conan - X-Y-Z-Cosmonaut's CosmoBlog - by xyzcosmonaut
Online English to Japanese to English Dictionary

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Kirikou e la sorciere - lyrics

Dans le village l'eau et les hommes
avaient disparu
Le femmes pleuraient et tremblaient
devant la sorcière
Kiriku seul savait ou trouver
notre grand-père
Kiriku
mon ami
nous a redonné la vie

R.
Kiriku n'est pas grand,
mais il est vaillant
Kiriku est petit,
mais c'est mon ami
Kiriku n'est pas grand,
mais il est vaillant
Kiriku est petit,
mais c'est mon ami

Sur la route des flamboyants
Du haut de la case de Karaba
Le fétiches surveillant le village
Kiriku demand purquoi
Karaba est si méchante
Kiriku
mon ami
nous a redonné la vie

R. Kiriku n'est pas grand...

Reprise:
Kiriku est petit,
mais c'est mon ami
Kiriku n'est pas grand,
mais il est vaillant

R. Kiriku n'est pas grand... (ad libitum)

Stars and blood

The presence of heavier chemical elements (as Calcium, Iron, etc.) is not explained just as result of plain, boring nuclear fusion that makes stars burn. This is why Hydrogen and Helium are so abundant. The only way to form heavier elements is during a supernova explosion.

So, Calcium in your bones and Iron in your blood are nothing but pieces of dead stars.
This fact never cease to amaze me.

Astronomy Online - Modeling Supernova

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God is female

Here is the proof. :-)

Ananova - Biker's penis hit by lightning

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Happens in Italy

A former Transport Minister was caught last sunday driving against the traffic on a freeway. Actually, in Italy neither freeways are *free*, so WTF?
There comes a cop: the Driver shows an ID Card (expired) proving he is a Parliament Member. And [therefore] he isn't fined.

There are two kind of people, those who believe police is here to protect, and those who believe police is here to vex. I am definitely in the first group, but this news give the police a bad name, leaving an overall sense of unfairness.

Next: former Health Minister smoking dope - stay tuned.

Burlando contromano in autostrada "Sono deputato", niente multa - cronaca - Repubblica.it

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Update: the former Minister asked to be fined to the maximum extent of law: 1 year without drive license, 3 month without his car, a fine of 3.508 EUR for driving against the traffic + 72 EUR for driving w/out drive license.

Ok, maybe he did it to dodge the scandal, but nevertheless is a ginormous step beyond.

Today my weight is greater (and yours, too).

The hi-tech cylinder of Platinum-Iridium stored in Sevres, near Paris (F), lost 50 micrograms since 1889. While scientists are worrying why The Kilogram has lost weight, I just performed a simple calculation:

50 micrograms are 0.00000005 kg

In this picture, a 100 kg person now weights 100.000005 kg, a whopping 5 mg more. Maybe is to blame the ice cream I ate yesterday? :-)

Kilogram has lost the weight of a fingerprint - Boing Boing

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Noise and plain

Often who is against disco noise says: who haven't a thing to say loves to stay in the noise. I completely agree.

Again: somewhere, maybe in "The Teachings of Don Juan, A Yaqui way of Knowledge" by Carlos Castaneda (repeat: maybe), is stated that native americans were quite negative about skyscrapers. They believed white man build them to try and fill the void between earth and sky. But this void can be filled only with what is inside of you.

Likewise, several people I know feels a little nervous when in plain. Sure, such a vastness is likely to pull out what is inside of you; if there are just ugly things, which can you feel shameful or anxious, no surprise you hate plains.

Silence is but a sort auditive flat country: either you feel comfortable in it, or you have something that doesn't work.

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V-Day

Beppe Grillo (his blog is currently 12th on Technorati) launched today the so-called "Vaffanculo day" (namely: fuck off day), to collect a minimum of 50,000 signatures. With those signatures he will mainly promote a popular law to forbid convict politicians to run for the Parliament (and no, there is no such a law in Italy yet. Really.)

Here you will find a list of convict politicians who are currently members of Italian Parliament (actually they are 24, the english page has not been recently updated).

Since almost every mainstream media gave no hype to this event (demonstrating that every reference to V for Vendetta is correct). Hello? This is Italy, not North Corea, in case you were wondering.

More than 300,000 signatures were collected today.

Beppe Grillo's Blog: V-day: Instructions

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Ocean Moon

I don't think it's photoshopped: breathtaking anyway, isn't it?
Link to the larger version after the jump.

Flickr Photo Download: Reflejo - Reflection

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